Dielectric dispersion of the relaxer PLZT ceramics in the frequency range 20 Hz-100 THz

The dielectric dispersion of the transparent relaxer ferroelectric ceramics PLZT 8/65/35 and 9.5/65/35 was determined in a wide frequency range includ ing th: microwave and infrared range. The number of observed polar phonons in infrared spectra gives evidence about the locally broken cubic symmetry and the presence of polar nanoclusters in the whole investigated temperatur e range up to 530 K. A single broad and symmetric dispersion that occurs be low the polar phonon frequencies was fitted with the Cole-Cole formula and a uniform distribution of Debye relaxations. On decreasing temperature, the distribution of relaxation times becomes extremely broad which indicates i ncreasing correlation among the clusters. The mean relaxation time diverges according to the Vogel-Fulcher law with the same freezing temperature 230 +/- 5 K for both ceramics, but different activation energies 1370 K and 104 0 K for the 8/65/35 and 9.5/65/35 sample, respectively. The shortest relaxa tion time is about 10(-12) s and remains almost temperature independent. Be low room temperature, the loss spectra become essentially frequency indepen dent and the permittivity increases linearly with decreasing logarithm of f requency. The slope of this dependence is proportional to T-4 in the invest igated temperature range (above 210 K) which indicates appreciable anharmon icity of the potential for polarization fluctuations.